Gulls, Gulls, Gulls,...

Here is a few photos of the Gulls at Watermead CP South yesterday, which included two colour ringed birds from Norway (JAN4 and J3NO).

JAN4

J3NO

2nd Winter Lesser black-backed Gull

More shots of the Whooper Swan@Watermead CP South.

Here is a few more shots of the Whooper Swan at Watermead CP South.



More colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls@Watermead CP South

Here is a few shots of at least two new colour-ringed Black-headed Gulls I saw today at Watermead CP South.
Also noted in the nearby Swan flock was a Juvenile/first summer type Whooper Swan (maybe son of Harold?!).

Jerome Isma-Ae - Speed (Original Mix)

A bit of a kicking tune!...

Mystery Gull@ Watermead CP South

Here are a few photos of an interesting gull I saw last week at Watermead CP South. It's probably an aberrant adult Herring Gull but if you look at it's primaries the bird shows a mix of black and grey colouring( So maybe a Herring x Glaucous-winged Hybrid or even Herring x Kumlien's Gull?!).

Gull masterclass: Stubber's Green, West Midlands

On Saturday I attended Martin Garner's of Birding Frontier's fame Gull master-class at Stubber's Green,Walsall, West Midlands.
As usual with Martin's classes there are very informative and a great experience when watching the very misunderstood larger gulls complex.
Although I didn't see any white-wingers at Stubber's Green, I did improve my knowledge on the tricky 1st winter Yellow-legged Gulls and 2nd winter Caspian Gulls, when Martin picked them out in the sizeable gull flock. What was also interested to note was the number of "Northern" Herring Gulls at this site. I now believe that the majority of the Herring Gulls which occur in the Midlands during the winter are of the " Northern" race (Argentatus).
So in conclusion if you have the chance to go on one of Martin's classes and have the same addiction for gulls as myself, I couldn't recommend it more highly!

Which one is the unusual gull?...

Ok it's a 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull behind

the two 2nd winter Northern Herring Gulls on the foreshore!

Saltwater (Original) by Chicane

Orange billed White-fronted Goose!?!

Whilst watching the Goose flock down at Wanlip North GPS yesterday I noticed that one of the juvenile White-fronted Geese appeared to have an orange bill.
Although my experience is limited with Greenland White-fronts, I had a nagging doubt that this bird might actually be one?
Have a look at the record shots of the bird and comments are most welcome of it's ID?

Bittern@Watermead CP North reedbed

Here is a few photos of one of the Bitterns at Watermead CP North reedbed view from Crake hide yesterday.

BBC East Midlands Today -Sally Goes Wild - Short Eared Owl - Cossington ...

Mr.Hague (aka drunkbirder) moment of glory!?!...
Ps I was the spotter for the day and the footage of the Short-eared Owls was because I put Adam the camerman on to them!!...